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I'm Listening: Ending the Stigma on ‘World Suicide Prevention Day’

Another chance to open the conversation

On September 10, 2017, Entercom launched I’m Listening, an effort to end the stigma of talking about mental health. It’s a date that didn’t happen by accident.

Every September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, an opportunity each year to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. Coupled with the death of Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington only a few months before, the time had come to spark the conversation. With I’m Listening, artists, athletes, and health professionals gathered to talk about their own struggles and to let everyone know that they are not alone.

The program marks the beginning of National Suicide Prevention Week, and continues to grow in size and impact each year. You can listen to this year’s edition of the broadcast featuring Lizzo, Halsey, Shawn Mendes, Solomon Thomas, Korn, Tegan and Sara, Blink-182 and more below.

“Nobody can walk inside of our body and change your brain around to feel things differently,” Lizzo explained during this year’s show, detailing her own mental health issues. “I think that’s the scariest and worst part about depression, and sadness, and anxiety is that it’s in your body. There’s nothing external that can change it.”

“One of the things for me, more so than even being able to ask for help, was recognizing the problems to begin with. Noticing the warning signs, noticing patterns, and being in touch with myself enough to know when something is wrong,” Halsey added, continuing to be a vocal advocate for mental health. “When my body check engine light went on, instead of just ignoring the problem, being able to say, ‘this time I’m gonna take it to the shop in time before the car breaks down.’”

The mission of I’m Listening is to let you know that it’s okay not to feel okay. Mental health issues affect over 40-million Americans. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there.

Please check the RESOURCES YOU CAN USE on ImListening.org for a list of people that you can talk to, right now. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.

World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10, but the conversation about mental health needs to happen every day.